Sarova Hotels has used Straker’s flexible content management system, Shado MX, to develop a new website which has improved the user experience, expanded the brand and helped to drive an increase in the number of global hotel reservations.

Online bookings are crucial to the hotel industry but a lot of business is lost through poorly designed websites and difficult navigation. Research has proven that users need to be inspired while having easy access to hotel information and rates, or they simply move on to another site. Sarova recognised these problems and with the help of Shado MX and exciting design by web based solutions provider, Monochrome Interactive , Sarova has launched a new website using Flash technology with Rich Internet Applications.

  Guests are now able to explore any of Sarova’s hotels in the UK and Kenya with complete ease, using an innovative menu driven navigation system. Interactive visuals take guests through hotel bedrooms, conference rooms, a health and fitness spa, restaurants and bars, as well as a range of other facilities. The site also has a dynamic, simple to use online booking system which gives instant room availability and rate details. The booking system is integrated with Straker’s Shado MX. The content management system gives Sarova full control over the web site content, images and appearance of the system and helps the hotel increase its conversion rate.

“The new Sarova web site allows us to spread our brand globally and has set us apart from other hotels with the functionality of the site and the interactive online booking system,” said Christopher Wood, Sarova’s Marketing Manager.  “Feedback is excellent, our customers really like the site, which is reflected in our figures. Bookings have already shown a significant increase and revenue has risen as a result. Our web site now encompasses extensive images of the hotels with comprehensive information, while portraying the ‘service-related’ aspect of being close to the customer. In short, the new site continues to exceed our expectations enormously,” he added.

“Sarova needed a powerful content management system with a framework to integrate with legacy applications. We are delighted to have provided Sarova with a range of out of the box solutions that has enabled Sarova to easily integrate their booking system with comprehensive information about the hotels,” said Tim Jenkins, UK MD of Straker Interactive.

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